Contributions to this site

There are too many long ones which I do not have time to check.

Given new laws pending from the EU over repeating other media items I will delete things that have long quotes or cross references to other sites as I have no wish to get entangled in any copyright issues.

63 Comments

  1. Mark B
    March 27, 2019

    Yet another reason to Leave. Whatever happened to fair use ?

    1. Richard
      March 28, 2019

      “The Revolution Will Not Televised. – by order of The Brussels Politburo

  2. margaret
    March 27, 2019

    This sounds as though you are becoming exasperated .At this time , even though you have had your diary running for years , why not limit to 50 comments and ones with something new to say ( I don’t expect there will be many of those)

  3. Al
    March 27, 2019

    I see you have encountered the joy of Article 11 & 13.

    A further complication that has been brought up is that in the US a similiar system ended up funnelling money from small creators to larger ones: the authority in charge of managing the fees collected all the revenues but then deemed it too difficult to repay smaller artists and settled on simply dividing the entire revenue between the 200 top artists.

    That certainly puts a new spin on the big name artists in the UK supporting it.

    1. Richard
      March 28, 2019

      The comment by ‘davews’ below seems correct: “although the EU parliament passed the new copywright directive this week individual states have 2 years to apply it to their own legislation. It is NOT in force yet.”

      So, as Guido notes: “At least 13 MEPs have told the European Parliament they accidentally voted the wrong way. Now the EU has modified their individual voting records but has refused to revisit the result of the vote, despite the fact there was a majority of just 5 MEPs. The EU also rejected a direct request from MEPs to stage the entire vote again.”
      Welcome to ‘democracy’… Brussels style.

  4. A.F.Fanculo
    March 27, 2019

    Ah! Yes! the EU laws, where would we be and how would we manage without them?

  5. Martyn G
    March 27, 2019

    Good Heavens John, I quite understand your decision but had no idea that such unwarranted EU interference in free speech was about to enter our lives. What next, one wonders – having to seek government permission to speak in public, perhaps?

    1. hefner
      March 28, 2019

      So Martyn, swallowing hook, line and sinker everything our host is spoonfeeding us.

    2. mary
      March 28, 2019

      Didnt the MSM tell you about it> Well surprise surprise.

    3. Jim R
      March 28, 2019

      Do not jest!

  6. BR
    March 27, 2019

    Understood, Will try to be more succinct.

    Good that you check these posts personally, it is useful to be able to have a direct line of communication to someone in your position. Presumably the reverse is also true.

  7. nshgp
    March 27, 2019

    But we’re leaving.

    EU laws won’t apply.

    Unless you know something different. …

    1. old salt
      March 28, 2019

      nshgp:
      but when?

  8. Julie Dyson
    March 27, 2019

    Entirely understandable, and I must apologise for being one of the guilty party sharing the outrage and venting my spleen!

    Stay strong, and keep up the good work. Your keen insight and honest views are very much appreciated.

  9. Roy Grainger
    March 27, 2019

    I don’t remember the changes to internet copyright laws being in the Conservative or Labour manifestos at the last election ? Odd. I’d remind people that when law is in force (as it will be if the WA is passed) it prevents you from sharing any link to a news story, article, meme, or photo via any of the major social media platforms – but don’t worry, they’ll install tight upload filters to stop you even trying. Bit surprised that Andy and the younger voters approve of this EU initiative as they are the major users of those platforms, we ignorant old voters don’t use them of course.

  10. a-tracy
    March 27, 2019

    Sir John, can you clarify what Jeremy Corbyn is up to? I think Labour voters need to know clearly what he is suggesting instead of leave with the only WA deal open to us as declared by the EU repeatedly. The Labour voters I know think he is a big leave supporter who is just staying quiet to get leave through without May’s bad WA. I don’t want them voting Labour in May whilst he is playing around with their false impressions of what he stands for.

  11. Frances Truscott
    March 27, 2019

    Can I link to your site when having a Brexit discussion?

  12. Tom Lillis
    March 27, 2019

    This leads to an interesting point. Usually when I leave a lengthy comment on a blog I will include links as citations to indicate I’m not talking through my hat. If many have your (quite sensible) reaction to the EU law it will make “fake news” the default. Proper news will be disallowed due to research links to supporting facts.

    1. Frances Truscott
      March 28, 2019

      Yes I often do the same. One finds ones facts and links to them.

  13. Peter
    March 27, 2019

    “There are too many long ones which I do not have time to check.”

    Many from the same poster too – L*******c.

    Poor old Duncan knocked it on the head in early 2019. I think the whole Brexit thing was not good for his blood pressure. In fairness, Duncan did not post over long contributions or multiple entries on the same topic.

    1. Glenn Vaughan
      March 28, 2019

      Peter

      It is my understanding that Duncan now writes his contributions under the pseudonym of Dominic. Same daily complaints to get rid of Theresa May (as if we needed persuasion) but just under a different name. Yawn ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  14. ian
    March 27, 2019

    and don’t forget the new law for new cars to have speed limiters fitted by 2022, might well shut the car factories down now.

    1. Bob
      March 28, 2019

      ” new cars to have speed limiters fitted by 2022″

      you forgot to mention the immobilisers that require the driver to take a breathalyzer test to activate the car’s ignition system.

      And of course such gizmos will never malfunction at 3am when you’re trying to get your wife to the maternity unit.

    2. Jim R
      March 28, 2019

      Then GPS trackers.

  15. ian
    March 27, 2019

    Mrs T May says she will stand down before the second stage of her deal to get pasted in the HOC. The speaker says May deal cannot come before the HOC till it has been changed substantially and will stop it coming before the HOC till it is changed.

    Look like Mrs T May deal could be off the table.

  16. acorn
    March 27, 2019

    JR, if you are scared stiff of copyright laws, we must thank some gods, you have never been in high political office, having to decide to commit our nation to war!

    1. sm
      March 28, 2019

      That is a truly weird connection, acorn.

      I come from a family of editors and sub-editors, and know how careful they have to be – no matter what subject and context the text covers – regarding copyright infringement under current laws. Since our host has stated before that he does not employ staff to monitor and administer this blog, his caution in the face of the new EU legislation is completely sensible.

      1. acorn
        March 29, 2019

        OK, some MP are leaders and the rest are just lobby fodder. That’s why you never see JR as the spokesman, at the front of a protest group; in front of a TV camera. Thatcher called it being “frit”.

        1. Edward2
          March 29, 2019

          Nonsense acorn.
          The new EU laws are prescriptive and lay down severe restrictions on the internet and passing on others content.

  17. Newmania
    March 27, 2019

    Insight – The ERG are not stupid , they know that “our own trade deals” is a fictional benefit . They simply do not wish to say what they means which is ; ” Our own light touch regulation”; that is real. That means an attack on secure employment environmental standards , public protections of all kinds and an open door to slash and burn Victorian capitalist anarchy..

    1. Edward2
      March 28, 2019

      Do you think a political party would get elected if at a General Election they put forward your fantasy manifesto Newmania?

  18. agricola
    March 27, 2019

    Problem is you do not moderate by your own rules. Long pieces get published while shorter ones do not. Some get away with up to nine entries, the record on my last count. Repetition is at times the order of the day. I would maintain that one could have a good guess at the writer without the pseudonym. So if we are to have rules lets adhere to them.

    1. agricola
      March 27, 2019

      I would add that the real judgement should be upon the quality and perception of the comment, best judged by subsequent contributors comment upon it, good or bad.

  19. Caterpillar
    March 27, 2019

    As many will say if MPs back May’s unbackable WA now that she says she will stand down then we know how worthless those politicians’ opinions and judgements really are. They would not be fit for purpose.

    If the WA gets through and Gove becomes PM then this is doubly true. This is the person who would not accept the Brexit Secretary role without being able to renegotiate it (that he can support it is shocking). If MPs do not support a real Brexiteer for leader of the Conservatives, and said person does dump Hammond then the remain agenda will be clear.

  20. formula57
    March 27, 2019

    A consequence of Brexit, unlooked for (as it will never have occurred to anyone) and much regretted (oh surely so, by someone, somewhere!) is that I try to limit both number and volume of contributions so as not to impose on your time. If some others followed suit, that would be nice. Thank you afresh for your enlightening and heartening diary.

  21. GilesB
    March 27, 2019

    I appreciate your practical problem with long contributions.

    And your potential problem with the EU’s ridiculous new laws.

    On the former, why not limit comments to 140 characters?

    On the latter, you need to continue to support reasoned discourse. If we cannot refer to past claims, we can no longer stand on the shoulders off giants and will sink back into the swamp

    1. acorn
      March 28, 2019

      What is so rediculous about protecting the copyright of original authors? Rapporteur Axel Voss, a member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, said the directive was “an important step towards correcting a situation which has allowed a few companies to earn huge sums of money without properly remunerating the thousands of creatives and journalists whose work they depend on”

      It will force a free market in internet content surely Conservative capitalism at it’s best.

      1. Al
        March 28, 2019

        Except that it doesn’t protect copyright: DMCA does that.

        Article 11 forces publishers and content creators to provide ways for their content to tax links even if they do not want that content taxed, or want to make it freely available. In Spain, where this directive is already in place, it requires publishers to pay creators even if they do not want to be paid, which destroyed Creative Commons access and even the EU admits it damaged freedom of information. In Germany four years ago, a similar rule cut traffic to websites substantially.

        In each case, the smaller creators and publishers lost out as larger ones used clout to negotiate special terms to still be in search engines or linked to, while smaller ones could not.

        Article 13 forces creators to put their work through automated filters to upload. If you remember the disaster that automated filtering has been on youtube (resulting in third party companies making copyright claims on material that isn’t copyrighted or where the user has written permission, and sometimes against the copyright creator, because they get funds for it) you will see why this is a bad idea.

        There is a reason the petition against these is on 4.5 million verified signatures, mostly small creators.

  22. Dominic
    March 27, 2019

    I for one appreciate your efforts even if at times my input is somewhat abrasive

  23. J Bush
    March 27, 2019

    So the politicians want to endorse Article 13. Speaks volumes.

    Not sure they will so cock-a-hoop downstream when joe public experiences the repercussions with their oh so clever decisions.

    Just how are they going to control millions of angry people? What will they do, send us all to prison? Use the footnote of the Lisbon Treaty and use whatever force necessary to quell civil unrest? Because that is what the EU army is really all about. Meanwhile while the RoW will look on appalled.

  24. Iain Gill
    March 27, 2019

    Ah yes EU laws we love them, after all we only voted for Brexit to remove ourselves from them

  25. ian
    March 27, 2019

    Look for a long extension with Mrs T May keeping her job.

  26. Georgina
    March 27, 2019

    Pursglove has falken. Also Murray. iis our land lost?

  27. Lifelogic
    March 27, 2019

    More daft, expensive, damaging and misguided red tape from the EU!

    Please, please, please do not give in to this appalling treaty and do all you can to kill it dead. I am rather appalled at Boris, Bone and Mogg’s pathetic cave in. Why are they doing it?

    The special place in hell is surely reserved for the remoaner MPs and the speaker, who have undercut the UKs negotiating position and have very nearly ensured the UK has to suffer this appalling surrender lunacy.

    All thanks to Gove giving us the dreadful, incompetent liar, remainer & socialist traitor May.

    I shall never vote Conservative again, unless I have one of the very few JR type of Conservative MPs. Even if it means suffering the lunacy of Corbyn. May’s deal is at least 4 more years of Brexit lunacy in a straight jacket.

  28. Lifelogic
    March 27, 2019

    Well done to the DUP and Arlene Forster – so far anyway. May’s deal must die.

  29. Steve P
    March 27, 2019

    I’ll keep this short

    John Redwood for Prime Minister – need someone who puts the people before parliament

  30. Freeborn John
    March 27, 2019

    Please don’t wobble on the WA; it will last indefinitely and ensure that like Turkey the UK is trapped in limbo officially negotiating with an EU that has no interest to advance talks. We would be trapped exactly where they want us with no ability to exit the arrangements for centuries to come.

  31. agricola
    March 27, 2019

    I would add that the real judgement should be upon the quality and perception of the comment, best judged by subsequent contributors comment upon it, good or bad.

  32. SidneyIngleby
    March 27, 2019

    Whatever may befall I must thank you for the daily exposition of clarity and unfailing courtesy to folk who could do with a lesson in manners and polite expression of disagreement
    If De Gaulle had been around when Heath came a-courting we would never have got through the front door.Nor would Ireland,Sweden,Spain,Portugal ,Denmark.
    Little did we,then,know that NSea and offshore oil and gas was such a game-changer.
    Oh to go back in time.
    Howe admits that in drafting the accession treaty “we pulled the wool over their eyes”
    Once more we have been fleeced

  33. L Jones
    March 27, 2019

    Not OUR laws, then, Sir John, but ”EU laws”. Isn’t this why we are trying to escape?

  34. Sir Joe Soap
    March 27, 2019

    DUP only honest force in UK politics

  35. Pominoz
    March 27, 2019

    But take it as a compliment, Sir John, that those who care about Brexit use your site to express their heartfelt views.

  36. Nicholas Odoni
    March 27, 2019

    Quite understand the difficulty, Sir John.

    Would you be able to give us all a word limit, or maybe just set a limit in the comments box, with an automatic cut off? That would force us all to keep our comments succinct, which might help.

  37. Denis Cooper
    March 28, 2019

    Yesterday under the wise leadership of the Father of the House, Kenneth Clarke, the greatest number of MPs expressed their preference that the UK should volunteer to be treated by the EU in same appalling way that Turkey is treated by the EU.

  38. Stephen Priest
    March 28, 2019

    What are the copyright implications on the following?

    “Brexit means Brexit”

    “No deal is better than a bad deal”

  39. Brit
    March 28, 2019

    I’m British (pure, unadulterated,(I knew my father)how can I refer to the UK whilst the UK is in the EU without going against EU copyright?

  40. Fedupsoutherner
    March 28, 2019

    Understood John. Love this site and make it my first source of information rather than the news channels for honesty. Thank you John.

  41. Stred
    March 28, 2019

    Young fans of the EU absolutely love posting copies of YouTubes to each other. They are usually made by people who want their videos to be seen by as many viewers as possible and for free. This law is not going to go down well.

    1. McBryde
      March 28, 2019

      Outlawing url links this way will make the EU even more like former Soviet Russia = Pravda.

  42. davews
    March 28, 2019

    Note that although the EU parliament passed the new copywright directive this week individual states have 2 years to apply it to their own legislation. It is NOT in force yet.
    I appreciate Sir John’s concern but fear this issue will follow what happened with GDPR with many sites over-reacting (hence all the annoying cookie consent popups). The implications are still a bit vague (and I am still not sure what a meme is..), let us hope that it is not going to as bad as some fear. And of course when we are out of the EU next week (?) our government can put its own interpretation on it.

  43. Everhopeful
    March 28, 2019

    Rotten “Deal” forced through.
    Arts 11 and 13 prevent us getting real news forever more.
    Was that the plan?

  44. Mark
    March 28, 2019

    I saw a cartoon suggesting that we are now at the nexus of Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World and 1984. The Copyright Directive threatens to have a very chilling effect on public debate. If we leave the EU, I would like to see it repealed.

  45. Stephen
    March 28, 2019

    Article 13 says nothing of the sort. It relates to ‘content sharing services’ which your website clearly is not.

    Do you not understand the legislation or did you choose to misrepresent EU laws to support your wider views?

Comments are closed.